Police: Car goes airborne, crashes into 2nd floor of building

Authorities said the driver, who admitted to using narcotics, struck a raised median, launching the car into the air before crashing into the building

By Marilyn Kalfus
The Orange County Register

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A speeding car struck a median and flew into the second floor of a building early Sunday morning, Jan. 14, remaining lodged into a dental office, authorities said.

The white Nissan Altima was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on French Street when the accident occurred in the 300 block of E. 17th Street, Santa Ana Police said in a news release.

OCFA in Santa Ana with a vehicle that crashed into the second floor of a small Office building. The vehicle hit the center divider and went airborne and landed into the building. One person self extricated, the other person is still trapped in the vehicle. USAR from OCFA On scene pic.twitter.com/Lm5b4oyCIm

The driver hit a raised center median on 17th Street, launching the car into the air. The vehicle struck the 2nd floor of the building and was lodged there, sticking out of the structure as police arrived at around 5:30 a.m.

The car’s occupants, who police said had minor injuries, were extricated from the vehicle by responders from the Orange County Fire Department. A small fire was quickly extinguished, according to OCFA.

“The driver, who admitted to using narcotics, will be admitted to a local hospital for observation,” the news release said.

Officers will submit a DUI/Narcotics case to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, police said.

Public Works was summoned to examine the integrity of the structure and Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived with a large wrecker truck to remove the car from the building.

At least one surveillance video from a nearby motel circulated on social media Sunday night showing the crash. It showed a speeding vehicle go airborne towards the building, but because of the angle does not show the impact. It does show the resulting debris cloud and that the car narrowly missed colliding with another car and a bus.

Santa Ana Police Sgt. Roland Andrade said investigators will review any videos of the event and asked anyone with such video to contact the department at 714-245-8201.